Waste Outlet

ABSTRACT

A waste outlet for a plumbing fixture comprises a body adapted to be located in the fixture outlet. The body defines a throughbore, and a portion of the throughbore includes a trough surrounding a flow opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a waste outlet for a plumbing fixture, andmore particularly, but not exclusively, to a waste outlet fitting for ashower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recent trends in shower design have led to an increasing provision of“power” showers and “hydro-massage” showers. Power showers create apowerful spray of water, generally by utilising a water pump.Hydro-massage showers employ multiple jets to project water towards theuser from a number of different locations within the shower cubicle.

Both of these developments give rise to the need for shower outletscapable of handling a greater volume of water than is necessary for aconventional shower.

Conventional shower outlets and waste outlet plumbing may be unable todischarge water as quickly as it is delivered by such showers, with theresult that water can build up in the shower tray around a user's feetand potentially overflow out of the shower tray and onto the surroundingarea.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention toprovide a shower outlet which is capable of discharging water at arelatively high rate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided awaste outlet for a plumbing fixture, the waste outlet comprising a bodyadapted to be located in the fixture outlet, the body defining athroughbore, and a portion of the throughbore including a troughsurrounding a flow opening.

As water flows through conventional waste outlets, a continuous air coreis maintained in the flow, restricting the flow rate through the waste.However, in outlets made in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention the presence of the trough facilities creation of a siphonicdrainage condition, providing relatively high discharge rates, withoutincreasing the flow area. Although not wishing to be bound by theory, itis believed that the flow of water from the trough and into the flowopening facilitates elimination of the air core, permitting a siphonicdrainage condition to be established.

The trough may be a circumferential trough.

The flow opening may be located centrally of the throughbore.

The trough is U-shaped, but may take another form.

An inner wall of the trough may define at least a part of a sidewall ofthe opening. The sidewall of the opening may be substantially axiallyaligned with the main throughbore axis.

The waste outlet may be adapted to be connected to a waste pipe. In oneembodiment the waste outlet body is arranged to receive an end of awaste pipe. In this embodiment, the sidewall of the opening may beadapted to be substantially aligned with the internal surface of thepipe to provide a substantially continuous surface. In alternativeembodiments, the body is arranged to be received within an end of awaste pipe, or to abut an end of a waste pipe. In these alternativeembodiments, the wall of the opening may be substantially aligned withan internal surface of the waste pipe, to form a substantiallycontinuous surface. It is believed that such a substantially continuoussurface assists in the establishment of maintenance of a siphonic flowcondition.

The body may comprise a polymeric material, such as ABS or PVC.

The body may be a unitary component, and may be adapted to be injectionmoulded as a unitary component. In other embodiments, the trough oropening may be defined, at least in part, by a member, such as a spigot,located in the body, and the body may be a multi-part assembly.

The waste outlet fitting may include a grid. A grid is provided to actas a filter, particularly for hair. The grid may be removable tofacilitate cleaning.

The waste outlet fitting includes a cover for location over an inlet tothe throughbore. The cover may also act as a filter. In one embodiment,the cover may act as a coarse filter and a grid provided below the covermay act as a fine filter. The cover may have a decorative appearance andprovide a support surface for a user. The cover may define openings orperforations or may be in the form of an open grid or mesh. The covermay define a continuous edge portion. An edge portion of the cover maybe spaced from the body to permit water to flow between the cover andthe body, or the cover and body may be otherwise formed to facilitateflow of water from the fitting through, around or under the cover.

The waste fitting may include a mounting flange transverse to thethroughbore. The waste fitting may be securable to a shower outlet bysandwiching a portion of the shower outlet between the underside of themounting flange and another element of the fitting. The other elementmay take the form of a removable collar, the collar being releasablyattachable to an outer surface of the body.

The other element may be releasably attachable to the outer surface ofthe element of the body which defines the flange by a threadedconnection.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda waste outlet for a plumbing fixture, the waste outlet comprising: abody adapted to be located in the fixture outlet, the body defining athroughbore; and means for facilitating creation of siphonic flow inwater passing through the throughbore.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided awaste outlet for a plumbing fixture for directing waste water from theplumbing fixture to a waste pipe, the waste outlet comprising: a bodyadapted to be located in the fixture outlet, the body defining a borethrough which waste water flows in use; and means for directing part ofthe flow of waste water radially inwardly to eliminate an air core inthe waste water flow.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is providedwaste fitting for a shower outlet, the waste fitting comprising:

a body adapted to be secured in the shower outlet, the body defining athroughbore; and

a filter releasably mounted within the throughbore.

The filter may take the form of a grid.

The filter may comprise an annular body surrounding and supporting afilter member.

The filter may be removable via a body inlet, and thus be readilyaccessible to a user.

The filter is preferably located below a removable cover. The cover mayserve as a coarse filter and may serve to conceal the filter, such thatmaterial caught by the filter is not normally visible to a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view a waste outlet fitting according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the waste outlet fitting of FIG. 1 in anassembled configuration;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a waste outlet fitting according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the waste outlet fitting of FIG. 4 in anassembled configuration;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the waste outlet fitting according to anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the waste outlet fitting of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, there is shown an exploded view of a wastefitting, generally indicating by reference numeral 10, according to anembodiment of the present invention. The waste fitting 10 comprises abody 12 adapted to be secured in a shower outlet 50 (FIG. 3). The outlet50 may be provided in the base of a shower tray, a bath or a wet roomfloor. The waste fitting 10 includes a removable grid 14, which acts asa filter, and a removable decorative apertured stainless steel cover 16.

Referring also to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, there is shown a plan view and across-sectional view of the waste fitting 10 of FIG. 1 in an assembledconfiguration.

The waste fitting body 12 defines a throughbore 30 and a trough member32 that extends from a body inner surface 34 into the throughbore 30.The body 12 and the member 32 are injection moulded from ABS of PVC as aunitary component. The member 32 and the inner surface 34 collectivelydefine a trough 36 around the internal circumference of a portion of thethroughbore 30, the purpose of which is described below.

The waste fitting outlet 40 is adapted to receive an end of a waste pipe28. As can be seen from FIG. 3, an inner face 44 of the member 32 issubstantially axially aligned with an internal surface 46 of the wastepipe 28, to form a substantially continuous surface.

The body inner surface 34 also defines a lip 48 for supporting thefilter grid 14.

The fitting 10 is secured within a shower outlet by sandwiching aportion of the shower outlet 50 between a mounting flange 20 radiallyextending from an upper part of the body and a removable collar 22. Theremovable collar 22 defines an internal thread, which engages acorresponding external thread on the body 12.

In use, water draining from the shower tray will pass into thethroughbore 30. Some of the water will pass straight through the fitting10 into the waste pipe 28, however some will be caught by the trough 36.Once the trough 36 has filled, the water will overflow into the narrowedsection of the throughbore 30 surrounded by the trough 36.

Although not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that theaction of the water cascading out of the trough 36 and flowing radiallyinwardly into the opening surrounded by the trough facilitates theelimination of the air core from the water passing through the bore 30,permitting a siphonic drainage condition to be established.

Once the siphonic condition has been established, greater dischargerates through the shower outlet are achievable compared to aconventional waste outlet of similar cross-sectional area.

Various modifications and improvements may be made to this embodimentwithout departing from the scope of the invention. For example, thetrough member is shown formed integrally to the waste fitting. It willbe understood the member could be manufactured separately and securedwithin the waste fitting in a separate operation, or retrofitted to anexisting waste.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, whichillustrate a waste outlet fitting 60 according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention. The fitting 60 comprises a multi-part body and isadapted for location below a shower tray (not shown) and extendingthrough the shower tray drain opening. A stainless steel waste body 62is adapted to extend down through drain opening, the body including aflange 64 for engaging the upper edge of the drain opening and definingan external thread 66 for adjustably engaging the parts of the bodywhich are adapted to be located on the underside of the shower tray.

The body 62 also accommodates a removable internal strainer 68comprising a cylindrical wall and a relatively fine grid. The strainersits on a shoulder formed on the inner wall of the body 62.

A decorative apertured stainless steel cover 70 is removably attached tothe upper end of the body 62, the cover concealing the flange 64 andstrainer 68. In the illustrated embodiment the edge of the cover lies onthe flange 64, but in other embodiments such as described in FIGS. 7 and8, the cover 70 may be spaced from the flange 64 such that water mayflow into the fitting between the cover edge and the flange.

The elements of the fitting body adapted for location below the showertray include a well portion 72 having two primary components, agenerally circular cover 74 and a dished base 76. The cover 74 includesan internal threaded downwardly extending spigot 78 adapted to cooperatewith the external thread 66 formed on the waste body 62, and capable ofaccommodating shower bases of different thickness.

The base 76 includes a flange 80 including threaded blind bore 82 whichallow the cover 74 to be secured to the base 76 using four screws 84.The base 76 defines a central flow opening 86 which accommodates anupwardly extending spigot 88. Thus, a trough 90 surrounds the opening86.

In use, water will flow through the waste body 62 and the shower trayoutlet and into the well portion, the well portion being capable ofaccommodating a significant volume of water (in the illustratedembodiment the dished base has an internal depth in the region ofapproximately 75 mm and an internal diameter of approximately 280 mm).Water will flow directly into the flow opening 86 but will also flowinto the trough 90. Once the trough 90 has filled the water will flowover the upper end of the spigot and into the opening 86. As with thefirst embodiment, it is believed that this flow pattern assists ineliminating the central air core normally present in plumbing fittingwastes, and encourages the creation of a siphon effect, which providesfor a significantly greater flow rate of waste water away from theshower tray. In any event, testing has demonstrated that the illustratedoutlet configuration provided significantly greater flow rates thanconventional outlets.

The illustrated embodiments are suitable for use in applications where aseal or trap may be provided remote from the fitting outlet. In otherembodiments, a one-way valve may be incorporated in the fitting.

The present invention is not restricted to a waste outlet featuring atrough, and encompasses other outlets configured to facilitate creationof siphonic flow conditions. For example, in certain outlets provisionof a venturi or other flow area restriction may provide the desiredeffect. Other arrangements for directing waste water radially inwards ina waste outlet throughbore, and thus eliminating the air core from theflow in the outlet, are also within the scope of the invention.

Those of skill in the art will also recognise that the above describedembodiment of the invention provides a waste fitting which has animproved water discharge capability.

1. A waste outlet for a plumbing fixture, the waste outlet comprising a body adapted to be located in the fixture outlet, the body defining a throughbore, and a portion of the throughbore including a trough surrounding a flow opening.
 2. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trough is a circumferential trough.
 3. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow opening is axially aligned with the throughbore.
 4. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trough is U-shaped.
 5. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein a wall of the trough defines at least a part of a wall of the opening.
 6. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 5, wherein a sidewall of the opening is substantially axially aligned with the main throughbore axis.
 7. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waste outlet is adapted to be connected to a waste pipe.
 8. A waste outlet as claimed in preceding claim 7, wherein a sidewall of the flow opening is adapted to be substantially aligned with an internal surface of the waste pipe.
 9. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the trough and opening is defined, at least in part, by a member located in the body.
 10. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body throughbore accommodates an internal strainer.
 11. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 10, wherein the strainer is adapted to be removable from the throughbore.
 12. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, including a cover for location over an inlet to the throughbore, the cover being adapted to permit water to flow into the throughbore.
 13. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cover is adapted to provide a filter.
 14. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cover acts as a coarse filter and a strainer provided below the cover acts as a fine filter.
 15. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 12, wherein an edge portion of the cover may be spaced from the body to permit water to flow between the cover and the body.
 16. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein an element of the body includes a mounting flange extending transverse to the throughbore.
 17. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 16, wherein the waste outlet is securable to a shower outlet by sandwiching a portion of the shower base between the underside of the mounting flange and another element of the outlet for location below the base.
 18. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 17, wherein the body elements define corresponding screw threads.
 19. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, further including a non-return valve.
 20. A waste outlet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body defines a water-receiving volume extending transversely of the throughbore.
 21. A waste outlet for a plumbing fixture for directing waste water from the plumbing fixture to a waste pipe, the waste outlet comprising: a body adapted to be located in the fixture outlet, the body defining a bore through which waste water flows in use and having a wall portion configured to direct at least part of the flow of waste water radially inwardly to eliminate an air core in the waste water flow.
 22. A waste fitting for a shower outlet, the waste fitting comprising: a body adapted to be secured in the shower outlet, the body defining a throughbore; and a filter releasably mounted within the throughbore.
 23. A waste fitting as claimed in claim 22, wherein the filter comprises a grid.
 24. A waste fitting as claimed in claim 23, wherein the filter comprises an annular body surrounding and supporting a filter member.
 25. A waste fitting as claimed in claim 22, wherein the filter is removable via a body inlet.
 26. A waste fitting as claimed in claim 22, wherein the filter is located below a removable cover.
 27. A waste fitting as claimed in claim 26, wherein the cover serves as a coarse filter and serves to conceal the filter, such that material caught by the filter is not normally visible to a user.
 28. A waste fitting as claimed in claim 26, wherein an edge portion of the cover may be spaced from the body to permit water to flow between the cover and the body. 